Kia Cerato vs MG Mg4 Urban
What's the difference?

Kia Cerato

$13,990 - $33,333

2022 price

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MG Mg4 Urban

$29,990 - $32,990

2026 price

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Summary

2022 Kia Cerato

2026 MG Mg4 Urban

By Tim Nicholson

By Stephen Ottley

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 4, 1.6L

Fuel Type

Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

6.9L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Peppy turbocharged engine
Modern simple multimedia system
Massive boot

Good value small car
Stylish and spacious interior
Return of physical buttons

Dislikes

Harsh ride quality
Unrefined, noisy cabin
Ageing interior design

Active safety tech still needs work
Ride feels too firm at times
Cheap but not the cheapest EV

2022 Kia Cerato Summary

Three years after the fourth-generation Cerato small car rolled into Australian dealerships, Kia launched a mid-life facelift for the sedan and hatch range in mid-2021.

It ushered in styling tweaks including new headlights and Kia’s new logo, as well as more safety tech and a multimedia upgrade.

At the top of the range sits the warmed-up Cerato GT. It’s not quite Hyundai i30 N-level performance, more i30 N-Line. In other words, more than enough performance to keep most people satisfied and enough poke to get away quickly at the lights.

But is the updated version of Kia’s Cerato trying to be something it’s not, or is it a performance bargain?

Read on to find out.

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2026 MG Mg4 Urban Summary

MG needs a win, and the MG4 Urban may be the right car at the right time to give the Chinese brand a major boost.

It has been a rough few years for MG, with sales in decline for the past two years, which has seen it tumble from Australia’s favourite Chinese car maker to a distant fourth place behind BYD, GWM and Chery.

Part of that could be because of its rapid expansion, both in terms of its total number of models but also the size of the vehicles it’s offering. The larger QS SUV and U9 ute have both received underwhelming responses from the car-buying public.

So, MG has returned to its roots - small, affordable cars. The MG4 Urban, not to be confused with the MG4 Hatch, is its new price-leading electric car and the company’s new management hopes it leads a sales revival.

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Deep dive comparison

2022 Kia Cerato 2026 MG Mg4 Urban

Verdict

Kia has value and packaging on its side with the sleek and spunky Cerato GT sedan. There’s no shortage of standard gear, it comes with the latest multimedia and safety gear and the cabin and cargo area are spacious and practical.

The powertrain is a winner too. Which is why it’s such a shame that it’s let down so badly by the ride quality.

If you’re going to be driving on various road surfaces, or regularly driving long distance, check out the far more compliant Hyundai i30 N-Line instead.

But if you’ll only ever drive in urban areas – or enjoy the occasional back-road blast – and you can handle the firm ride, there’s still plenty to like about the Cerato GT.

Verdict

The MG4 Urban is not only the right car at the right time, perfectly catering to buyers looking to avoid rising petrol prices, it’s also a welcome return-to-form for MG as a brand.

MG is seemingly at its best when it sticks to small cars. It has traditionally excelled with the MG3 and ZS, smaller, more affordable products that keep expectations in check and can win over customers looking for the best bang-for-their-buck rather than simply the best car.

That’s not to say the MG4 Urban isn’t a good car. It offers tremendous value for money, excellent interior space and drives nicely, so anyone who has been considering making the switch to an EV should seriously consider this new arrival.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with meals provided.

Kia Cerato vs MG Mg4 Urban What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Kia Cerato vs MG Mg4 Urban
What's the difference?